54 reactors down: Japan breaks free of nuclear power

With tomorrow’s scheduled shutdown of Japan’s Tomari nuclear power plant the country will be free from nuclear power for the first time since 1966. Can it seize this historic opportunity? Here at Greenpeace we believe it can.

All of Japan’s 54 nuclear reactors will be offline. Now, the country’s government must learn from its mistakes of the past, listen to its people and scientists, keep reactors offline, and usher in Japan’s renewable and sustainable future. History is within their grasp.

The operator of the destroyed Fukushima reactors, Tokyo Electric Power added “for the electricity supply and demand in the foreseeable future, we expect to maintain stable supply.” If there are electricity shortages this summer it will be the fault of the government who instead of properly planning energy conservation and pouring resources into renewables have been obsessed with restarting Japan’s discredited nuclear reactors as fast as possible.

The nuclear industry is clearly terrified that if Japan sees it can live without this dangerous and expensive technology then it’s game over for them. The fantastic example being set by Japan can only encourage other countries to follow suit.

(The truth is there in black and white. Last week French nuclear giant AREVA released its revenue figures for the first three months of 2012. The company says that “order cancellations as a result of the Fukushima accident” have cost it 612 million euros. Its Nuclear Reactors and Services Business Group’s revenue increased by just 5.8%. It’s Renewable Energies Business Group’s revenue is up by a massive 198%.)

Greenpeace’s Energy [R]evolution scenario for Japan (here in Japanese and English), released in September 2011, shows that the country can leave all of its nuclear plants offline permanently and still meet its 2020 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets via energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the smart management of the demand for energy.

The path to the future stretches out before the Japanese government. It can turn back or step forward. To abandon nuclear power and fully embrace renewable energy would take just a fraction of the courage shown by the Japanese people since March 11 2011. Those who have suffered in the last year and continue to suffer today deserve nothing less.

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(Unregistered) Snooze
says:

Willfully blind, I see.

"The Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano has said there will be no restrictions on electri...

Willfully blind, I see.

"The Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano has said there will be no restrictions on electricity use or rolling blackouts. The operator of the destroyed Fukushima reactors, Tokyo Electric Power added “for the electricity supply and demand in the foreseeable future, we expect to maintain stable supply.”

With the aid of aforementioned power rationing initiatives, obviously. Must be the first time ever that TEPCO and a Japanese politician are regarded as trustworthy here.

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(Unregistered) Beppe
says:

Folks, relax and consider two simple facts:

1) expected air temperatures in Tokyo tomorrow May 8th are 17-23 (min-max) Celsius and the rest of the week is along the same lines. There barely any need of air conditioning in Tokyo during this season.

"you could be forgiven for thinking that the impact of the March 11, 2011 triple-disaster on the country has been negligible. Life seemingly rolls on as normal... and the impact on society here will remain all but invisible. Sure, some of the bright advertising lights of Tokyo have been dimmed to conserve power, and some large companies are complaining of increased energy costs, but in a country built on huge power excesses, where there’s a vending machine serving hot or cold drinks on virtually every street, and heated toilet seats in almost every home, there are many places power savings can be made without hurting standard of living."

Gotta love the massive caveat at the end. Stop consuming you evil Bourgeois first worlder! You're hurting Muvver Earf! It's also in their adorable little Five Year Plan if you've ever perused it, which contradicts the nature of the above.

"The Government forced businesses to reduce their electricity consumption by 15% in the summer compared with the previous year, the public was asked to conserve power wherever possible, and exciting other new ideas are already appearing on the scene."

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(Unregistered) Beppe
says:

I believe the 15% electricity cut was necessary last year to make through the 2,3 the peak consumption hours of the hottest days, rather than to the t...

I believe the 15% electricity cut was necessary last year to make through the 2,3 the peak consumption hours of the hottest days, rather than to the total comsumption.
Peak consumption reduction has been achieved, for example, running factories on weekends and taking days off during the week, a small temporary sacrifice to be able to say sayonara to nuclear power.
Japan did not go back to middle age last summer, nor it will during the coming one.

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asnowman
says:

With tomorrow’s scheduled shutdown of Japan’s Tomari nuclear power plant the country will be free from nuclear power for the first time since 1966. Ca...

With tomorrow’s scheduled shutdown of Japan’s Tomari nuclear power plant the country will be free from nuclear power for the first time since 1966. Can it seize this historic opportunity? Here at Greenpeace we believe it can.

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(Unregistered) Zamm_
says:

Tamil Nadu in India seized the "historic opportunity". Installed a lot of wind turbines, which indeed yield lots of energy when winds are go...

Tamil Nadu in India seized the "historic opportunity". Installed a lot of wind turbines, which indeed yield lots of energy when winds are good.
Then the wind stopped, and - guess what? - there was no power...

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(Unregistered) Pequot
says:

I don´t think that many people understand that:
It doesn´t matter how the climate change will affect country´s ekonomy.
Mo...

I don´t think that many people understand that:
It doesn´t matter how the climate change will affect country´s ekonomy.
Money an wealth can not save anyone against environmental collapse and you can not bargain.
Yes, I know, this may look like a doomsday prophecy but it still doesn´t matter.
WE have to adapt to the changes, changes that already has began.
That´s it and believe me: There will be another world.